Monmouth: Driver with steamy windows killed pensioner - court

A driver killed a pensioner in a supermarket car park after failing to see her because of her steamed-up windows, a court has heard.

May Mustey, 45, hit Gwendoline Owen, 75, in the Waitrose car park in Monmouth, South Wales, on the afternoon of 31 December 2022.

Cardiff Crown Court heard of Mustey's "impatience" as she drove with her head stuck out of the window.

She was banned from driving for five years.

Judge Paul Hobson sentenced her to 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He also ordered Mustey to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay prosecution costs of £1,200.

The court heard she struck Mrs Owen with her Toyota Yaris as she left the car park at about 16:15 GMT on New Year's Eve.

Mrs Owen suffered fatal head injuries and died hours later in hospital.

One witness told police: "It appeared to me she was not looking round or paying attention to her surroundings whatsoever.

"It appeared that the driver did not have a clue what she was doing."

The court heard Mrs Owen's husband was in poor health and living in a care home and there were no other surviving relatives.

At a previous hearing, Mustey, of Maypole, Monmouth, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Owen Williams, defending, said Mustey had written a "heartfelt and genuine letter of apology" to the family of Mrs Owen.

The court heard she had since lost her job as a teaching assistant.

"It was your impatience that day that led to her death," said Judge Hobson during sentencing.

"Having made the decision to start to drive you should have stopped when it became obvious to you that the windows were not clearing as quickly as you had hoped.

"The danger of it should have been obvious to you but you ignored that danger. It was impatience that got the better of your decision making."